Uncaring
or gutless politicians of ALL parties are helping to commercialise
Anzac.

Image is a copy of a section of
Queensland's Courier Mail (daily) newspaper on November 18, 2004

It was nice that the Australian rugby league players had an opportunity
to visit the war graves in France (C-M, Nov 17), but I was appalled that
the ARL used the acronym Anzac for the Australian-NZ team that played a
challenge match in England.

Anzac means Australian and New Zealand
Army Corps (1st. AIF) and belongs to a band of men who faced disease,
hardship and gunfire the likes of which we cannot imagine, and did it
with amazing courage. Let's give them the respect they deserve and
stop using Anzac indiscriminately. - T. Alexander.

Anzac is a
protected word in Australia and New Zealand. In neither country is it
legal to use the word in any other than it's historical sense. In both
cases it is legislation at the national level that offers the
protection. It is also illegal to use any word that would be confused
with Anzac. (Details)

There are only a few exceptions.

Anzac biscuits is one where
approval is nearly automatic.

Geographical references are
legal (e.g. Anzac Avenue Fruit Shop).

RSL is usually given approval
to name buildings: e.g. Anzac House.

However many in the
commercial world do not know or totally ignore the rules. This is made
worse when weak (gutless?) politicians do nothing to protect the word
from commercialization. This page is to list the known breaches that I
have personally seen and the result, if any, of complaints lodged with
the Australian Minister for Veterans Affairs. The
most recent is to the top.

2004.
The TV Network Channel Nine (and possibly others) started to advertise
the Tri-Nations Rugby League Series in the UK. One team was a
combination of Aussies & NZers. Channel Nine started to advertise
them as "The Anzacs"

A
complaint to the NEW Minister, De-Anne Kelly, was ignored for 11 days. A
contact was made with my local MP who told me that they were trying to
find out if an application had been made. I asked 'How long?" I was
told "A long time".

As this would lead to the situation
that the series would be over before any politician pulled his/her
finger out I contacted EVERY MP and EVERY Senator. (Over 200 people). I
asked if they were willing to protect Anzac.

I got 1 reply. (Not counting the
"Out of Office" or 'Please put it in writing with a local
address" replies.

I complained to RSL and they have
agreed to investigate BUT their next meeting is AFTER the end of series.

The Australian Government has joined forces with the
New Zealand Government to seek international protection for the word
‘Anzac’, the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, Danna Vale, announced
today (15 April 2003). The two nations are making a joint application to
the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to control the use
of the word ‘Anzac’.

The
Minister is to be acknowledged for this attempt. It should be noted that
her predecessor, Minister Scott, said that this was not possible.

This begs the question "If there
is a move to protect Anzac on the international level why don't we
protect it here in Australia?

Minister Vale was replaced at the next available opportunity
but her failings were not so much in this regard, more a general
misunderstanding of her job.

2003.
Two major entrepreneurs, hiding behind a front of a community
organisation sought and received approval to run, for profit, the "Great
Anzac Military Tattoo" in
Sydney.

Minister Bruce
Scott approved this usage even though it was a double whammy. By that I
mean that the misuse of Anzac was made worse by the addition of the adjective
"Great".

I ask what is next: the Magnificent Anzac Circus, the
"Extra Special, You Beaut Wonderful Anzac Second Hand Car
Company" or perhaps the "El Magnifico Anzac Massage Parlour;
where Diggers don't need a uniform".

Scott
was replaced by the PM at the next opportunity.

The poster to the left is for the 2006 edition put on
by another set of businesspeople who have invested $3.5 million in the
venture but want me to believe that it is not for profit, rather to keep
the Anzac Legend alive. Do I really look that stupid?

This one was approved by Minister De-Anne Kelly. She
lasted 13 months in the job.

2002.
Uncle Toby's launched an "Anzac Museli Slice".

When
the complaint was lodged the Company withdrew the product for a short
time, applied for and was given approval by the then Minister Bruce
Scott. As museli had no historical attachment to Anzac or Gallipoli I
put this in the "gutless politician" class. Scott
was replaced by the PM at the next opportunity.

2002?
One of the large media companies
(a newspaper) imported tens of thousands of "Anzac Medallions"
from China. The idea was to increase demand for their newspaper by
selling the medallions to anyone who had a coupon cut from the paper.

Australian
Customs intercepted the shipment and declared them illegal. Gutless
politicians allowed the importation to proceed so long as the the
medallions were not sold. The media company got half or more of what it
wanted by changing the rules of the promotion. There was next to no dis-incentive.

2002.
Flag Inns decided to advertise
themselves as "an Anzac Company" because the operate in both
countries.

The
Company withdrew the advertising as soon as they were made aware of the
problem. They are to be congratulated.

1997/98/99
Super League’s "Anzac Test"

Last
year’s Anzac Day saw the emergence of several commercial ventures
seeking to capitalize on the Anzac legend, the most notable being the
inauguration of the Super League’s annual "Anzac Test"
between Australia and New Zealand - the trophy for which includes a
representation of an Australian slouch hat and New Zealand lemon
squeezer hat.

The Anzac Test was controversial not only for its use of
the word "Anzac" but also for the manner in which the
advertisements cast the participating athletes in the gladiatorial mould
currently in vogue for the promotion of professional sports, suggesting
in some way that they were modern "Anzacs".

Bruce Ruxton,
National Deputy President of the Australian Returned Services League,
was featured in the advertisements proclaiming:

"Mark
my words, Australia is still in grave danger from one of our so-called
neighbours. The Kiwis were once our allies and now they’re on the
other side - at least for 80 minutes".

The
advertisement concluded with the words "lest we forget".

Mr.
Ruxton was estimated to have been paid up to A$5000 for his part in the
commercials (Sydney Morning Herald, 22 April 1997) and in an
attempt to quell the furore Super League announced it would donate
$20,000 to the RSL and provide free entry for returned servicemen.

Super
League’s explanation was that it was "trying to create a young
audience" and that it could "contribute through our young
audience so that young people should realise the great history and
traditions of some of our servicemen [who] have gone away and given
their life for their country" (Editorial, Sydney Morning Herald,
19 April 1997).

Australian
politicians allowed the match to be advertised as the 'Anzac Day
Test" but in those years and as recently as 2004 did NOTHING when
the ruling was ignored.

Cynical old me thinks that politicians
do not want to ring Kerry Packer's boys to tell them that they are in
breach.